Agriculture minister seals investment deals to boost cassava, palm oil sectors.

Minister Gabriel Mbairobe signed for the ministry while the promoters of the Cameroon Growth Value Chain Network Centre, CRFC, and the Cameroon Soap Manufacturing Company, SCS Alid, a major Douala-based palm oil processor, signed for their respective companies. 

Minister Mbaïrobe stated that the agreements reflect a shared commitment to building a dynamic, inclusive and competitive agricultural ecosystem. 

According to the minister, the initiative demonstrates the government’s intention to promote innovative partnerships aimed at accelerating agricultural modernisation.

“The signing of these agreements testifies to our common will to build a dynamic, inclusive and competitive agricultural ecosystem,” he said. 

The minister further acknowledged the role of the CRFC in supporting innovation, skills development and capacity building among actors in agricultural value chains, working alongside government efforts to strengthen the sector.

Addressing supply deficits

It emerged from the signing that the move comes amid a mismatch between domestic demand and supply in both sectors, resulting in increased imports and pressure on the trade balance. 

It was revealed that in the cassava sector, which involves around 600,000 producers and covers approximately 310,000 hectares, production targets have been set at 10 million tonnes by 2030. This is intended to reduce a market deficit that exceeded 31 million tonnes in 2025.

In the palm oil sector, stakeholders disclosed that the current production remains below demand, with a structural deficit estimated at 300,000 tonnes. Authorities aim to reach 600,000 tonnes by 2030, while the overall gap to be addressed stands at more than 850,000 tonnes.

Under the agreements, the CRFC, through the New Agro-Industrial Company of Cameroon, Sonadic S.A, will support the development of 45,000 hectares in the central plains. 

The project is expected to produce 500,000 tonnes of panifiable cassava flour and 400,000 tonnes of cassava starch.

CRFC National Coordinator, Simon François Yonga Bakala, said the collaboration would involve coordinated actions with the Ministry of Agriculture to strengthen production and value chains. 

Expected socio-economic impacts include an expanded tax base projected at over 1,700 billion CFA francs by 2030, the creation of 50,000 direct jobs and more than 150,000 indirect jobs, as well as improved farmgate prices and yields.

Other anticipated outcomes include better living conditions for producers, increased youth participation in agriculture, greater inclusion of women, and the promotion of locally made products alongside export growth.

Yoko palm oil project

For palm oil, the project to be developed in Yoko Subdivision is expected to yield significant outputs. Projections include the production of 4,080,000 seedlings, the harvest of 1,200,360 tonnes of palm nuts, and the extraction of 216,065 tonnes of crude palm oil. Refining is expected to produce 155,567 tonnes of palm oil.

The article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3739 of Monday March 23, 2026